Daily news summaries

Catch up with RBA's daily birdnews summaries. Browse ten days at a time, or choose a date to read summaries from that day backwards.

Daily summaries are available from 13 April 2006. For earlier weekly reviews, visit our articles.

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Wednesday 17th October 2012  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of both Lanceolated Warbler and Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll on North Ronaldsay, Orkney Isles, with, nearby, an Olive-backed Pipit on Westray. Other new rarities comprised a Greenish Warbler in County Cork at Three Castles Head, and a White-rumped Sandpiper and Red-rumped Swallow in Norfolk between Cley and Salthouse.

On the Isles of Scilly the Solitary Sandpiper and Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler remained on St Mary's, with three each of Ring-necked Duck and Yellow-browed Warbler, Barred Warbler and Richard's Pipit around the islands. On the Shetland Isles a Lanceolated Warbler continued, with Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler, Olive-backed Pipit, Great Grey Shrike and the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.

Elsewhere, lingering rarities confirmed as still present were the Eastern Olivaceous Warbler in Fife, Tawny Pipit in East Yorkshire, Little Bunting on the Orkney Isles, Red-breasted Goose in Kent, two Spotted Sandpipers together in County Clare, Lesser Yellowlegs in County Dublin, Long-billed Dowitchers in both Cheshire and Gloucestershire, American Golden Plovers in both County Clare and the Orkney Isles, Lesser Scaup in Somerset, four Glossy Ibises in Cornwall, and the Azorean Yellow-legged Gull in Leicestershire.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 16th October 2012  
  In Scilly today Blackpoll Warbler, Solitary Sandpiper, Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler, and American Golden Plover on St Mary's, and Olive-backed Pipit on St Martin's. In Shetland today Lanceolated Warbler and Olive-backed Pipit on Fair Isle, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll and Olive-backed Pipit on Foula, Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler and Olive-backed Pipit on Unst, Blyth's Reed Warbler and two Olive-backed Pipits on Mainland. On the Western Isles two Hornemann's Arctic Redpolls together on Lewis, and on Barra Blyth's Reed Warbler and Olive-backed Pipit.

Rarities elsewhere comprised the Eastern Olivaceous Warbler still in Fife, Red-breasted Goose in Kent, Blyth's Reed Warbler in County Waterford, Spotted Sandpiper and American Golden Plover in County Clare, Long-billed Dowitchers in Cheshire and Gloucestershire, Lesser Yellowlegs in County Dublin, American Golden Plover in Orkney, Richardson's Canada Goose in County Sligo, Bonaparte's Gull in Pembrokeshire, two Lesser Scaups together in Somerset, and Glossy Ibises in Pembrokeshire (4) and Cornwall (7).
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Monday 15th October 2012  
  On Isles of Scilly a Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler, Solitary Sandpiper, Blackpoll Warbler, American Golden Plover, Common Rosefinch and Short-toed Lark were all seen today.

On Shetland three Olive-backed Pipits were logged, as well a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker at Scalloway (Mainland), the first record for Scotland.

Elsewhere new discoveries included Red-rumped Swallow in Norfolk and both Black Kite and Penduline Tit in Kent, whilst a second drake Lesser Scaup joined the bird already present at Chew Valley Lake (Somerset).

Lingering rarities comprised Eastern Olivaceous Warbler in Fife, Long-billed Dowitchers in Cheshire and Gloucestershire, Red-breasted Goose in Kent and Tawny Pipit in East Yorkshire.

In Ireland a Blyth's Reed Warbler (Co Waterford), White-rumped Sandpiper (Co Derry), American Golden Plover (Co Kerry), Baird's Sandpiper (Co Cork), two Spotted Sandpipers (Co Clare), Lesser Yellowlegs (Co Dublin) and Hoopoe (Co Antrim) were all logged.

The best of the rest included Pallas's Warblers in Lancashire, East Yorkshire and Aberdeenshire, Pectoral Sandpiper in Norfolk, Red-backed Shrike in Cornwall, and Glossy Ibises in Kent (8), Cornwall (7) and London. Other scarcity totals comprised two Red-breasted Flycatchers, two Wrynecks, two American Wigeons, three Richard's Pipits, three Great White Egrets and six Barred Warblers.
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Sunday 14th October 2012  
  The second Eastern Olivaceous Warbler for Fife was found today at Kilminning, Fife Ness. This is, coincidentally, the same site which hosted a bird earlier in the autumn that some called as this species, but which later turned out to be a Chiffchaff. Further south, a male Pied Wheatear arrived on Holy Island, Northumberland, where it remained until dusk, and a Subalpine Warbler was seen briefly on Portland, Dorset.

Shetland logged a further six Olive-backed Pipits, along with a Little Bunting at Burravoe on Yell. The Isles of Scilly produced a Red-throated Pipit on St Agnes and a Little Bunting on St Mary's. Other new discoveries today included a Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll at Port Nis on Lewis, Western Isles, a Radde's Warbler on Bardsey Island, Gwynedd, a Lesser Yellowlegs on Hayling Island, Hampshire, a Red-breasted Goose at South Swale NR, Kent, a Blue-winged Teal at Rahasane Turlough, County Galway, Olive-backed Pipit and Little Bunting in Orkney (on Westray and North Ronaldsay respectively), two Red-throated Pipits and an American Golden Plover in Cornwall (with further Red-throated Pipits in County Cork and Norfolk) and a Glossy Ibis at Rainham Marshes RSPB, London.

Lingering rarity highlights included both Blackpoll Warbler and Solitary Sandpiper on the Isles of Scilly, Forster's Tern in County Louth, Azorean Yellow-legged Gull in Leicestershire, Tawny Pipit in Yorkshire, Citrine Wagtail in Gwynedd, Long-billed Dowitchers in Gloucestershire and Cheshire and two Spotted Sandpipers together in County Clare.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Saturday 13th October 2012  
  The highlight of the day was an Eyebrowed Thrush seen briefly on Foula. Elsewhere on the Shetland Isles, four Olive-backed Pipits were discovered, along with a Coues's Arctic Redpoll on Unst, two Little Buntings, Bluethroat, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Richard's Pipit, Spotted Crake, Great Grey Shrike, Lapland Bunting and three Yellow-browed Warblers.

A White's Thrush was found on Barra, Western Isles, as was a Booted Warbler in Devon at Slapton Ley, Paddyfield Warbler and Blyth's Reed Warbler together in Northumberland at St Mary's Island, Blyth's Reed Warbler in Dorset at Radipole Lake, Tawny Pipit in East Yorkshire, and Little Bunting in County Durham. In Ireland, Spotted Sandpipers were new in both County Clare and County Sligo, a Lesser Yellowlegs was in County Kerry and a White-rumped Sandpiper arrived in County Wexford.

On the Scilly Isles both the Blackpoll Warbler and Solitary Sandpiper remained on Bryher, whilst American Golden Plover, Rose-coloured Starling, Spoonbill, two Wrynecks and three Yellow-browed Warblers were noted around the archipelago.

Lingering rarities confirmed as still present included the American Buff-bellied Pipit in County Kerry, Forster's Tern in County Louth, Paddyfield Warbler in Cornwall, Long-billed Dowitchers in Cheshire, Gloucestershire and Lincolnshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in County Dublin, American Golden Plovers in County Clare and Orkney Isles, Glossy Ibises in Cambridgeshire, Cornwall (8) and Pembrokeshire, and the Azorean Yellow-legged Gull in Leicestershire.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Friday 12th October 2012  
  A pale morph South Polar Skua which flew past Mizen Head, County Cork was the first Mega discovery of the day. On the north-east mainland coast were both a Lanceolated Warbler and a Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler. The former was found in an area with no general access at Long Nab, Yorkshire, and was therefore untwitchable, but the latter was in Marsden Quarry, County Durham, where a few lucky birders watched it early afternoon. Further south, a Solitary Sandpiper arrived on Bryher, Isles of Scilly.

Back in the north, a Hume's Yellow-browed Warbler was at Cambois, Northumberland, with an Olive-backed Pipit in the same county on the Farne Islands. Another Olive-backed Pipit was on North Ronaldsay, whilst a Dusky Warbler, Blyth's Reed Warbler and Little Bunting were all found on nearby Shetland. A Greenish Warbler was at Old Head of Kinsale, County Cork.

Lingering rarities included the American Buff-bellied Pipit in County Kerry, Paddyfield Warbler in Cornwall, Lesser Yellowlegs' in Somerset and County Dublin, Long-billed Dowitchers in Lincolnshire and Gloucestershire, American Golden Plovers in Shetland, Isles of Scilly and County Wexford, Olive-backed Pipit in Shetland, Black Duck in County Mayo, King Eider in Moray and Lesser Scaup in Somerset.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Thursday 11th October 2012  
  The first Blackpoll Warbler on the Isles of Scilly since 2008 was discovered on Bryher today, but unfortunately it only showed briefly to the few lucky birders already on the island. Almost as brief, a Radde's Warbler was trapped at Spurn, Yorkshire, but wasn't seen after release. New arrivals on Fair Isle, Shetland included a Blyth's Reed Warbler and two Olive-backed Pipits.

Lingering rarities included the Paddyfield Warbler, Olive-backed Pipit and Ortolan Bunting in Cornwall, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll in Shetland, Northern Harrier in County Wexford, Citrine Wagtail in Gwynedd, single Lesser Yellowlegs' in Somerset and County Dublin, single Long-billed Dowitchers in Lincolnshire and Gloucestershire, American Golden Plover on the Isles of Scilly and a Glossy Ibis in County Cork.
-  Will Soar, RBA
Wednesday 10th October 2012  
  The highlight of the day was the discovery of a Citrine Wagtail on Bardsey Island, Gwynedd. Other new rarities comprised an Ortolan Bunting in Cornwall on The Lizard, American Golden Plover on Benbecula, Western Isles, and a brief Red-throated Pipit on the Wirral.

A Lanceolated Warbler remained on Fair Isle, with American Golden Plover, two Bluethroats, two Common Rosefinches, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Richard's Pipit, Barred Warbler and 24 Greenland Redpolls noted elsewhere on the Shetland Isles. Meanwhile, on the Isles of Scilly American Golden Plover, Rose-coloured Starling, Richard's Pipit, Dotterel, two Wrynecks and seven Yellow-browed Warblers were all logged.

Lingering rarities included Paddyfield Warbler, Olive-backed Pipit and two Glossy Ibises in Cornwall, Baird's Sandpiper in County Cork, Long-billed Dowitcher in both Gloucestershire and Lincolnshire, Lesser Yellowlegs in both County Dublin and Somerset, and American Golden Plover on the Orkney Isles.

The best of the rest were a Woodchat Shrike in County Galway, Purple Heron in Dorset, Red-backed Shrike in Wiltshire and American Wigeon in West Yorkshire.
-  Chris Batty, RBA
Tuesday 9th October 2012  
  On Isles of Scilly notable birds comprised American Buff-bellied Pipits on Bryher and St Mary's, a mobile American Golden Plover, Richard's Pipit, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Rose-coloured Starling, Dotterel, two Wrynecks and a handful of Yellow-browed Warblers.

Elsewhere new discoveries included Olive-backed Pipit in Cornwall, Red-throated Pipit in Devon and Blyth's Reed Warbler on Orkney.

Lingering rarities came in the form of Paddyfield Warbler and two Glossy Ibises in Cornwall, Glossy Ibis in Pembrokeshire, King Eider in Moray and American Golden Plovers in Argyll and Orkney.

In Ireland an American Buff-bellied Pipit and White-rumped Sandpiper (Co Kerry), Lesser Yellowlegs (Co Dublin), Long-billed Dowitcher, American Golden Plover and Baird's Sandpiper (Co Cork) and Northern Harrier and American Golden Plover (Co Wexford) were all logged.

The best of the rest included four Richard's Pipits, three Common Rosefinches, three Red-breasted Flycatchers, Barred Warbler (Kent), Spotted Crake (Devon), Rough-legged Buzzard (Essex), Purple Heron (Dorset), Cattle Egret (Somerset) and Red-backed Shrike (Wiltshire).
-  Stuart Piner, RBA
Monday 8th October 2012  
  A White's Thrush was at Cot Valley (Cornwall) this morning - the bird was only seen briefly and could not be relocated later in the day. Elsewhere in Cornwall new discoveries included Paddyfield Warbler on The Lizard, Glossy Ibis over Drift and Red-rumped Swallow in Falmouth.

On Isles of Scilly the American Buff-bellied Pipit and Grey-cheeked Thrush both lingered, whilst two American Golden Plovers were also seen.

On Shetland a Siberian Stonechat and American Golden Plover both lingered on Mainland whilst a Lanceolated Warbler was still on Fair Isle.

Irish rarities comprised Blyth's Reed Warbler and Baird's Sandpiper in Co Cork, Lesser Yellowlegs in Co Dublin, American Buff-bellied Pipit in Co Kerry, Forster's Tern in Co Louth and American Golden Plovers in Co Mayo (2) and Co Kildare.

Elsewhere lingering rarities included King Eider in Moray, American Golden Plover in Dumfries & Galloway and Long-billed Dowitcher in Western Isles.

The best of the rest comprised six Wrynecks, six Great White Egrets, five Pectoral Sandpipers, three Richard's Pipits, two Purple Herons, two Common Rosefinches, two Barred Warblers, Red-breasted Flycatcher (Orkney), Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Northumberland), Spotted Crake (Devon), American Wigeon (West Yorkshire), Rose-coloured Starling (Isles of Scilly), Red-backed Shrike (Wiltshire) and Red-necked Phalarope (Lincolnshire).
-  Stuart Piner, RBA